THE MOUNTAIN THIEF’S AMAZING RUN!

What an amazing run! My last posting here in THE MOUNTAIN THIEF BLOG was last March 2010, when the film was just about to have its World Premiere in San Francisco! We had an AMAZING RUN ever since, I had been mostly updating and putting up news in our FACEBOOK PAGE, and trying to build a following for the film there. For those of you who don’t have a Facebook account here is the summary of our most amazing 2010 film festival run!

1. THE MOUNTAIN THIEF won the Special Jury Award in San Francisco in its World premiere (photo above).
2. We were selected to play in Europe, Canada and the U.S. in 12 film festivals so far— San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Los Angeles AP Film Festival, Festival De Cine Asiatica de Barcelona, Silk Screen Film Festival, NY Asian American International Film Festival, CCIIFF Lempaut, France, DC APA Film Festival, San Diego Asian Film Festival, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Chicago Filipino-American Film Festival, Toronto Reel Asian Film Festival.
3. We won 3 awards, The Special Jury Award in SFIAAFF, The Audience Award in CCIIFF in the south of France, The George C. Lin Emerging Filmmaker Award at the DC-APA.

The film was well received in all of these cities with rave reviews, and I will be sharing soon. We are now in a position to make more impact and as I promised, we will be re-starting THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT and we are pursuing a lot of opportunities to make more change and continue to touch lives. MORE EXCITING NEWS COMING VERY SOON, Please visit us soon! and join OUR FACEBOOK PAGE!!!

Inviting you to JOIN OUR EFFORTS AND ADVENTURES!!!!

Gerry Balasta

The time has come! The WORLD PREMIERE OF THE MOUNTAIN THIEF, in San Francisco-March 11-21, 2010

The time has finally come! We Present To You, The WORLD PREMIERE of THE MOUNTAIN THIEF in San Francisco, March 11-21, 2010. The film is in COMPETITION in the Narrative Section of the prestigious 28th Annual San Francisco International Asian- American Film Festival, the biggest film showcase of its kind. Link below for screening times, synopsis and trailer. Looking forward to seeing you all in San Francisco!

http://filmguide.festival.asianamericanmedia.org/tixSYS/2010/filmguide/Director/AZ/NARRA/ALL/ALL/

NEW TRAILER BELOW. Please share, forward and post to your social networks, THANKS!

A Life Of Hope – Updates, Part 3

Ren’s story of hope continues— Ren’s cast was taken off and he can now WALK!
Meet Ren and see his improbable journey for getting surgery for his club-foot deformity. See how our film THE MOUNTAIN THIEF is touching lives, through people who heard about our story. Watch the trailer of this narrative film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WneDxT…

The film is almost finished! Visit our website: http://www.mountainthief.com/

Join us in FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mou… Join us in our efforts to inspire chage!

Updates, Ren’s surgery (09-13-09).

Ren’s story of hope continues— 6 weeks after surgery, Ren went back to the hospital to take the pin off his operated leg.

Ren’s improbable journey for getting surgery for his club-foot deformity. See how our film THE MOUNTAIN THIEF is touching lives, through people who heard about our story. Watch the trailer of this narrative film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WneDxT… 

The film is almost finished! Visit our website:http://www.mountainthief.com/ 

Join us in FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mou… Join us in our efforts to inspire change!

THE MOUNTAIN THIEF- A Story Of Hope

Ren and see his improbable journey for getting surgery for his club-foot deformity. See how our film THE MOUNTAIN THIEF is touching lives, though people who heard about our story. Watch the trailer of this narrative film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WneDxT…

The film is almost finished! Visit our website:http://www.mountainthief.com/

Join us in FACEBOOK:http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Mou…

REN HAD A SUCCESSFUL SURGERY!

I just got the word today, that Ren just had a successful surgery to correct his club-foot deformity. He is scheduled to go home in a couple of days. We would like to THANK EVERYONE involved in the MOUNT HOPE PROJECT,to  all the supporters and donors for the cause and the film, each of  one you had helped us touch the life of this child.   PICTURES and VIDEOS will be uploaded as soon as get them.  We’re also getting ready to do the SOUND MIX and the SOUND DESIGN of the film, partly from the amount raised from the fundraising in Boonton, Kinnelon and Indie go-go! THANKS EVERYONE— More on this later.  A few more supporters had shown interest in doing more fundraising, and share their talents to help us reach our goals. Updates to follow.

 

Above is the file photo of Ren (new pictures to follow)

Electric Lotus Tatoo fundraising in Boonton NJ raises $1,480 for the Mount Hope Project.

Electric Lotus Tatoo /Jae Connor raises $1,480,( includes a $500 donation from Mike), a supporter of the project.

Thank you so much for the support and contribution last 05-29-08 in Boonton, NJ, especially Jae and Mike C. for their generosity. Jae, the owner of Lotus Tatoo

and boutique and his entire staff was so generous in their time and support. There were about 120 people who attended the fundraising event and everyone was touched when they

found out about the project, kids and the scavenger actors.  THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT is deeply grateful for everyone for being a part of our project.

Boonton, NJ fundraising.
 

 

 

 

The staff of Lotus TATTOO.

Ren’s surgery delayed for 2 weeks due to low hemoglobin count and the flu.

Ren was suppose to have his surgery last 06-13-09. Unfortunately he had a flu and when they did the lab test, he also had a low hemoglobin count. They geve him medication to help raise his count and they estimate he needs two weeks to recover. We will keep you posted, visit us.

Donations Tally and thoughts/updates.

Here are the donation tallies as of 06-15-09 and expenses:

DONATIONS FOR THE SCAVENGER-ACTORS:

Pam M.- $200, H. C. (anonymous) -$500, Kinnelon Fundraising-$1,400   TOTAL: $2,100

Expenses:  Richard’s CT scan  (read below) Ren and Richard’s MD consultations, transportation,x-rays, meals: $900 as of  06-15-09

Estimated cost of Ren’s club foot surgery: $700,  Therapy cost=  to be determined after surgery. CURRENT TOTAL: $1,600 (excluding therapies).

CONTRIBUTION TO FINISH THE FILM:

Indie Go-Go- $236, Medith- $50, Sandell: $100- TOTAL : $386 Will pool with MOUNT HOPE PROJECT.

DONATION FOR THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT:

Boonton, NJ/Lotus Fundraising- $980, Mike. C- $500 – TOTAL: $1,480

We have taken the medical needs as a priority. The donations for the scavenger-actors will be set aside and pooled, until we raise enough amount to make another impact. It seems that there will be a couple of hundreds left after Ren’s surgery and therapy.  FOR THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT donations, I hope use it to help finish the film so we can screen the film at a bigger venue— I feel we have a better chance of reaching our goals when the film is finished and when it is seen by many.  A supporter offers to hold a fundraising party to help raise finishing funds of the film, etc… Please let us know if you want join us in our efforts in finishing this film OR IDEAS FOR OUR EFFORTS.

Taking it one step at a time for now, we hope to go through Ren’s surgery and will see how much we have left.

Example: Through our efforts, we found out that Richard’s hydrocepahalous is stable and they’re recommending special education. After some generous donations, we raised enough money to get him through CT scan, medical evals (read below) and raise enough money for Ren’s upcoming surgery (read previous posts). Sending him to school, will require a big commitment both for his family, especially that survival comes first, and will require substantial resources to provide this and make this happen. Raising the initial amount took a lot of effort from Pam, Holly etc.. and myself— As  I am just learning how to do this kind of micro-philanthropy work.

My hope now is to get a wider screening and get the attention of organizations to help us in our efforts. In the meantime, THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT is committed to help make it through that wider screening and we  will continue to do our best, to make an impact and will pool the amounts raised and will continue our efforts, including shelter. As I was advice, we will take it one step at a time— go through Ren’s surgery, finish the film, do a wider screening and ask people to join our efforts.

Please join our FACEBOOK CAUSES page and FAN PAGE and be a part of this project:

CAUSES PAGE:

FILM PAGE:

Fundraising raises $1,400, includes Kinnelon High Business Club recycled bottle fundraising on EARTH DAY; amount assures club-foot surgery for Ren.

 

Special Thanks to Pamela Meredith for hosting a very SUCCESSFUL fundraising. $1,400 in total, the amount assures that Ren will have enough money for his surgery  in a couple of weeks. Anything in excess we will set aside for the other goals of THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT.

We had about close to 50 people who attended and I also had good feedbacks on what I hope is the FINAL CUT of the film. The feedbacks are very encouraging and the audience were touched with THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT part of videos  which I added to the film.

I also met some amazing people who will look into doing more fundraising to help the film and THE MOUNT HOPE PROJECT.

 

The Kinnelon High business club, sold recycled bottles on EARTH DAY and they raised $400, they chose to donate this funds to the MOUNT HOPE PROJECT.  Thanks to Justine, Matthew and Steven for being a part of the project. Ren is scheduled to go back at the end of May and he should have surgery within the week or the week after. after this medical procedure there maybe some extra amount left and this will be set aside as we review what else can be done for the scavenger- actors.